Five Evergreen Kitchen Design Trends

*Featured Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels

Though the function of the kitchen has transitioned back to being the heart and soul of family life, it is quickly becoming one of the most luxuriously designed rooms in which friends and family gather to spend quality time together, share meals, and relax.

Because kitchen remodeling can be rather expensive, it's important to choose upgrades that find a nice balance between being trendy and timeless that you can live with for years to come. If you've worked a remodeling project into the budget (large or small), here are a few trends that will surely outlast 2021 that you can happily live with for many years to come.

Open floor plan

Big, open kitchens are hot right now; renovators are knocking out walls left and right. Over the past several decades, floor plans have transitioned from being several small closed-off rooms to one large "great room," enabling homes of all sizes to feel open and airy.

Using lower cabinetry with open shelving on the walls makes the space feel bigger and more open. It also enables you to put your dishes, glassware, and other mementos on display while keeping food and less attractive kitchen items neatly tucked away. You end up saving money by not having to replace your existing lower cabinets.

It is a good idea to carry a design theme throughout the space if your kitchen is viewable from the living area or vice versa.

While both spaces don't have to match exactly, coordinating elements and a deliberate color palette throughout the area will help tie the living and kitchen areas together, creating a stylishly cohesive lived-in space. Varied textures, materials, fabrics, and prints keep rooms from looking like they were purchased from one store all at once.

Counters 

A mix of various countertop options in one space is also a good choice. Granite or marble counters partnered with a butcher block work station or a stainless steel island creates visual interest within the space and can save you money. Concrete or stainless steel accents allow you to splurge on a more expensive material like granite, carrera marble, or enameled lava.

Fixtures

Oil-rubbed bronze, aged brass, copper, brushed nickel, chrome, and long-lasting stainless steel are all solid choices that will give your kitchen a fresh new look. If you're looking for something to create a warm, inviting glow, copper, brass, or oil-rubbed bronze will certainly do the trick. Brushed nickel and chrome will give your kitchen a sleeker, cleaner look, especially in a dark kitchen.

If you're worried about your copper or aged brass faucet clashing with a stainless steel sink, white is a safe choice. A sink in a warmer tone will also harmonize well with copper, brass, or bronze.

Cabinets

All-white kitchens are still the most popular choice today because of the open and airy feeling they evoke. White cabinetry is simple, visually uncluttered, and much easier to keep clean, making your whole kitchen feel cleaner. Pairing white appliances with your cabinets will blend well, helping the whole space look more cohesive.

Appliances

Up-to-date appliances are always a great option to give a kitchen a fresh, new vibe. You don't even need to splurge for all the extra bells and whistles. Stainless steel is always in style, but white appliances, among other colors, are gaining popularity.

Textured plastic has now been replaced by smooth and glossy finishes. White blends in nicely with simple white cabinets to keep the space feeling light and airy. Appliances that sit flush with cabinets also keep the space from feeling choppy or cluttered. Ranges placed out on islands allow for an easier conversational flow between the hosts and guests.

Unique range hoods create an eye-catching focal point that is sure to be a conversation piece. Hoods now come in several mounting options, including; wall-mounted hoods, under cabinet mounted hoods or island range hoods. Multiple ovens allow for less cluttered cooking.

Styles are constantly evolving, but some trends have more staying power than others. It's important to find a nice balance between trendy and classic upgrades. New trends are not for everyone, but it doesn't hurt to be-in-the-know.